Downton Abbey’s Bottle Bonanza

Downton Abbey has enjoyed tremendous attention and affection from its fans and the media over the four seasons the British-bred period costume drama has aired here on PBS’s Masterpiece Theatre. But as with any TV series poised to again compete for viewers against a myriad programming choices across big screens and small, the show needed…… Continue reading Downton Abbey’s Bottle Bonanza

An Unhealthy Funding Event

Ahh. The yin-yang of it all. Today, the Twitter trumpet Launchticker touted the $80M round of financing for Oscar Health Insurance, founded by New Jerseyan Joshua Kushner of Thrive Capital who’s the brother of Jared Kushner, owner of the NY Observer and husband of Ivanka Trump, daughter of The Donald, the perennial faux GOP presidential…… Continue reading An Unhealthy Funding Event

All Press Required To Stay Strictly On Message

Ronan Farrow, no stranger to controversy, is slated to receive a journalism award named for one of the icons of the profession: “The Cronkite Award for Excellence in Exploration and Journalism.” The fact that this 26-year-old already has garnered an award for a relatively slim body of work is questionable enough, but there’s one even bigger…… Continue reading All Press Required To Stay Strictly On Message

Under Armour’s Fashion Faux Pas

Polo Ralph Lauren for Team USA (Photo: Getty) Love it or hate it, Polo Ralph Lauren’s Team USA Olympics apparel didn’t have to do much to gain fans. Its “Made in America” label alone thrust the company over the finish line for the gold, especially in comparison to the scandal-plagued Made in China suits Team USA…… Continue reading Under Armour’s Fashion Faux Pas

1 In 128 Billion: A Slam Dunk

Warren Buffett (via Forbes)These are the odds of winning the $1 billion that Warren Buffet and Quicken Loans ponied up for the NCAA hoops genius who correctly picks the “perfect March Madness” bracket.  Not only will Mr. Buffet and Quicken Loans not have to make a payout anytime soon, but the publicity this little PR…… Continue reading 1 In 128 Billion: A Slam Dunk

Media Relations Is Dead. Long Live Media Relations.

A few weeks ago, a senior media executive at one of the largest, most digitally savvy PR agencies shared with me a call he had with his top management in which they lamented the lack of media relations savvy from the firm’s younger professionals. “Shouldn’t there be more formal training,” they pressed, to which he…… Continue reading Media Relations Is Dead. Long Live Media Relations.

In Search Of Justine

Of all the pontificators on Twitter who weighed in on the unfortunate Friday night fiasco featuring one Justine Sacco (in absentia), several struck a chord with me. I personally weighed in to suggest that the easy-to-pounce Twittersphere give Ms. Sacco a break until she resurfaces to explain herself: @mathewi @samfbiddle @JustineSacco I don’t see how…… Continue reading In Search Of Justine

Media’s Fate: Platform or Publication?

PandoDaily’s intrepid New York reporter Erin Griffith set Twitter tongues-a-waggin with her piece drawing a journalistic distinction between news “publications” and content “platforms.” She questioned the editorial integrity of news sites that accept or are fueled by content from outside “contributors” (with supposed hidden agendas): “A platform which allows anything to be published with no oversight,…… Continue reading Media’s Fate: Platform or Publication?

Beyoncé & Barack: A PR Contrast

Nick Farrell Photography/Courtesy of Columbia RecordsThis week, we watched as the White House press corps angrily revolted against the office of the President of the United States, accusing Mr. Obama and his PR consiglieres of media manipulation and propaganda. Apparently, pre-selected handout press photos no longer pass editorial muster. From Mediaite: “The members of the…… Continue reading Beyoncé & Barack: A PR Contrast